In Tall Buildings Looking Down Over A City
Refreshingly introspective sound sweeps over Chicago from In Tall Buildings.
In Tall Buildings
In Tall Buildings
Released on Apr 06, 2010
In a city that is still plagued with the starry eyed dreams of pop punk misadventures, Chicago's music scene as of late is starting to all blend together. But thankfully for us all, a change in sound is on the horizon. With In Tall Buildings’ first self titled release, this has to be the new face of Chicago's music scene.
Erik Hall, the multi-instrumentalist which performs under the moniker In Tall Buildings, retreated to his lake view high rise to construct his first album In Tall Buildings. And it shows! This album has all the reflective characteristics of peering out over the expanse of the lake and at some point putting your forehead on the glass to ponder how far is down?
In Tall Buildings begins with “Walking Man”, a mellow, slow building folk/rock exploration that melds perfectly. Hall’s vocals feel fresh and new, yet somehow reminiscent of of bands of the 90‘s. It’s as if Ben Gibbard and Michael Stipe has morphed into one, which somehow works perfectly! This vocal tone continues on “The Way To A Monster’s Lair”. With delicate vocal melodies, and power driven instrumentation the track feels like such an innovative step. It’s a masterful amalgamation of folk and computer driven beats.
“Twenty One” swirls with ethereal sounds and simply executed guitar that seem to be in the vein of Fleet Foxes. Yet strangely “Twenty One” borrows more from the likes of artists such as Sufjan Stevens and Denison Witmer. Hall does apply his own take to these sounds by injecting plenty of auxiliary instrumentation into the background of the track.
The most captivating moment within In Tall Buildings comes within “Elvis Presley Blues”. The deep and rich guitar swells keep this dynamically consistent track on its haunting course. Though it’s lyrically repetitive, it conveys Hall’s message in a beautifully muddled fashion.
However, there are a few tracks that seem to fall abit short on the album. Tracks like “Suitor” borrow from the early sounds of Neil Young’s vocal delivery, which comes across as a card that has been overplayed. “Good Fences” is an easily forgettable track that leaves the listener searching for the ground on which the sound is to be balanced. It seems a bit to schizophrenic to convey a clear message.
Altogether, Hall has to be commended for his freshman efforts. In Tall Buildings is a shift in the Chicago music scene that is refreshing and necessary. There is no doubt that Erik Hall is a talent musician with a creative vision. With this kind of innovative sound, In Tall Buildings is a project to keep your eyes open for.
High Point
“The Way To A Monster’s Lair” is the perfect sing along, hum out loud, and tap your toe summer song.
Low Point
The forgettable and disorganized “Good Fences.”
Posted by Shelby Pollard on May 25, 2010 @ 8:00 am